The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has said that the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) introduction of the E-Truck Call-up (Eto) system has brought about a transformative change in port logistics management , reduced port access time to less than 42 hours and significantly lowered costs from ₦350,000 to ₦21,500 per booking.
The Secretary General of the association Mohammed Sani Bala disclosed this during an interview session with JournalNG on 10th June, 2025 in Lagos.
Mohammed also said that the Eto system has been a game changer for the logistics sector, reducing congestion and improving traffic flow.
According to him , the system has saved businesses nearly ₦14 billion every couple of weeks and prevented a collapse of up to 40% of businesses in Apapa , Tincan and has also improved access to schools, emergency response, and raw material delivery to industries.
On challenges facing truckers , he said that despite the success of the Eto system, external challenges persist, including multiple checkpoints and terminal inefficiencies that hinder its full effectiveness but to address these issues, he urged the NPA to implement additional digital safeguards, such as non transferable electronic chips, and a truck scheduler manifest system to ensure transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed the association’s position in advocating for a harmonised haulage rate through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to reduce price volatility and disputes, as rates are currently determined by market forces of demand and supply. He stated that truckers have reported a decline in extortion along the Apapa express routes, with many illegal checkpoints removed, following advocacy efforts by the association
Speaking further, he said they are looking forward to the planned resumption of rail services for cargo haulage, which is expected to provide a viable alternative to road transportation and reduce risks associated with insecurity and poor road infrastructure.
He said that despite the decline in import volumes, truckers remain optimistic about profitability through diversification, exploring alternative opportunities in logistics services, intra urban and reverse logistics, and factory to factory movements.
He stressed that challenges still persist, including the impounding of trucks by customs operatives for transporting goods they have no knowledge of, which AMATO is addressing through dialogue with the Nigerian Customs Service and the association has reached an understanding with Customs, allowing them to apply for the release of trucks wrongly detained, and will continue to support affected members and sensitize truckers to remain vigilant, noting that it is nearly impossible for drivers to know the contents of sealed containers.
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